Testimony to Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education April 18, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , trackback18 April 2008, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan:
Today I had the honor of joining Oakland University President Gary Russi, Saginaw Valley State University President Eric Gilbertson, University of Michigan Chancellor Dan Little, and Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan Executive Director Mike Boulus in presenting testimony to the Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education. I talked to the representatives about the importance of investing in our cities and in higher education. I also told the legislators about the wonderful partnerships and developments that were helping transform Flint from “vehicle city” to “College Town.”
A couple of key points in my presentation follow:
But, there is another story to tell: the story of Flint not broadcast by the media. This other Flint is a city experiencing the best of times, a city in which the University of Michigan-Flint is proud to be at the center. Today’s Flint is a city based in wonderful partnerships that not only show hope but demonstrate results. Block after block of our downtown is experiencing rebirth, thanks to the great work of the Genesee County Land Bank, the Uptown Development Corporation, the Downtown Development Authority, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Ruth Mott Foundation, the University of Michigan-Flint, and many other partners. Flint is bringing in businesses and strengthening existing treasures such as the Cultural Center, places of worship, water resources, and colleges and universities. We have all come together in a Partner for Progress campaign.
Now, thanks to very dedicated and smart citizens, Flint is transforming from “vehicle city” to “college town.” Currently, there are approximately 30,000 people in Genesee County enrolled in one of the four colleges and universities based in Flint. That figure ranks Flint with Princeton, New Jersey in number of college students. Flint also has a cultural center that is the envy of even larger cities, with a wonderful symphony, a wide array of theatres, and a great art institute.
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